Rangers back in second; Predators closing in on Hawks

NHL News and Notes

Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves and Rick Nash scored the game-winning goal at 11:14 of the third period and the New York Rangers improved to 8-1-0 in their past nine home games against the Florida Panthers dating to March 22, 2011 (FLA: 1-7-1), including five straight wins.

* At 41-24-8 (90 points), the Rangers leapfrogged the idle Pittsburgh Penguins (40-24-8, 88 points) to reclaim sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Flyers hand Islanders fourth straight loss

Philadelphia moves within one point of second wild card in Eastern Conference

NEW YORK -- Brandon Manning's first NHL goal proved to be the game-winner and the Philadelphia Flyers moved within a point of a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-1 victory against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center on Monday.

Philadelphia (35-24-12), which is 11-3-2 in its past 16 games, is one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with one game in hand. They are three points behind the Islanders for the first wild card with the same number of games played.

Philadelphia travels to Barclays Center with second wild card in sight

NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia Flyers have won seven of their past 10, and with 12 games left in the regular season, they're aware how important every game is if they want to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flyers, who visit the New York Islanders at Barclays Center on Monday, lost 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday and are three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference with two games in hand. The Islanders hold the first wild card and have five more points than the Flyers having played the same number of games.